Friday, December 07, 2007

Derek Tidball Independent for CD 8

Tucson, Arizona. The Independent candidate Derek Tidball, a military veteran, is ratcheting up his machine for the pursuit of Arizona's Congressional District 8, an opponent of both incumbent Congresswoman Giffords and Republican candidate Tim Bee.

Derek's campaign Web site has upgraded and he recently appeared on radio to present an overview of his background and positions.

Word on the street is that the Republicans are far more nervous about his entry into the race, and listening to the radio program confirms this interpretation. Derek is in some respects a disgruntled Republican who believes in limited government, fiscal responsibility, integrity, and individual freedom. Integrity? Derek is everything the corrupt and "deficits don't matter" habeas corpus suspending, lying, torturing, stealing, corporate whore GOP vehemently opposes.

From Independent to Independent, I salute Derek's courage for stepping up to the plate and I hope he becomes a factor in the race that results in the most qualified and effective individual winning the election and becoming our next representative in Washington.

Based on what I have heard, Derek does not appear to be particularly concerned with the GOP's unhappiness with his entry into the race. I surprise no one stating my vote remains in the Giffords column for now, but I am an Independent, and I like to listen.

Derek Tidball sees lack of leadership in Washington and its inability to help those in this nation who need it. A veteran, Derek is very attuned to returning veterans and the well documented atrocity they face as they try to productively integrate into society. I have posted profusely on PTSD, drug addiction, and suicide. Veterans are going to like this candidate.

Derek states he is a Republican at heart. He joins many in believing the GOP has drifted from its core values of fiscal responsibility, low taxes, and keeping the government out of people's lives. He claims he spoke with the GOP, expressed his views, and using other words he related that he was told to tow the line or pound salt. A Republican renegade, he uses the term "tow the line" with respect to both parties.

Based on absolutely nothing other than what happened in the 2006 CD8 general election, Mr. Tidball is likely to get only 4 to 6 percent of the vote, but that is certainly enough to swing the election in favor of Giffords.

Independents will have their day, to be sure, given the increasing dissatisfaction with the two dominant politcal parties. It will probably start with good candidates who can raise money in open districts that are not either staunchly conservative or liberal.

I'm not sure that Tidball provides CD8 voters with another choice as much as he gives Tim Bee another obstacle to deal with, albeit a much smaller one than the power of incumbency. What helps Bee, however, is that the Democratic Congress isn't likely to accomplish anything significant in the next ten months and that certainly reduces the chances of a "vote the bums out" election especially at the local level.